2014 Holidays
Motortjalk Australia
Day 1 Drachten to Dokkum (32.13 kms)
Funny how owning one's own business limits the amount of time we can actually spare for holidays, but once again we have managed to arrange 2 weeks free to do something a bit more constructive with "the boat".
First day really meant throwing some food and clothes on board and heading off. Also had a few books from the library but just being on the boat seems to be relaxing enough to give an instant "holiday" feel.
The route to Dokkum is now very familiar to us but it remains interesting and peaceful with only one bridge to negotiate until we get to Dokkum itself. For 20 years now we have admired the low bridges through the centre of the city and this time we finally decided that we could pass through them and actually moor "inside the bulwarks". The other route is part of the "standing mast route" for sailboats to travel through without having to put their masts down. Not for the first time, it took us 4 hours and 10 minutes to get to Dokkum from Drachten. We're still running the new motor in so the leisurely rate was absolutely no problem.
Did a 10 out of 10 mooring (but with nobody watching) and walked the short distance into the main shopping area. Being a Saturday afternoon there was street entertainment and much activity so we sat and had a "nice cup of coffee" and enjoyed it all very much.
Typical bridge on the way to Dokkum; clearance about 10cm
There are probably about 10 of these low clearance bridges on the way but only one that has to be opened for us at Eastermar.
The perfect mooring spot in Dokkum
Drum band from Sneek playing in Dokkum
1652 Map of Dokkum
We were moored in the last stretch of water INSIDE the bulwarks, near the windmill symbol at the bottom right of the map. On the Sunday morning before setting off for Birdaard, we walked the entire length of the bulwarks - which are just the same as depicted in the 1652 map! We managed to collect 6 Geocaches along the way
Day 2 Dokkum to Birdaard (8.6 kms)
Still in familiar territory as we head off to the village of Birdaard (where we used to live). No hurry as it is only about an hour away. We're planning to stay at the haven next to the windmill where we buy flour for the bread machine.
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| Don't see many of these...... |
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| A narrow boat from Norfolk (I said hello, how are you? He looked up from his work and said "aha, that's nice to hear an English voice!".) Wished each other farewell and continued on....... Mooring in Birdaard
Bit of a story here - about the strange mooring arrangement in the haven. It turns out that it isn't just me that thinks it is strange. We turned in and immediately thought "what's this about"? Luckily, there were not many boats so we could take our time and choose an empty spot. The mooring jetties are too short so that when you are "in the mooring" the rear mooring poles are beyond reach except by throwing a lasso. There are no rings or poles on the jetties, so one has to use the "wall". Anyway, after I figured all this out we "walked" the boat to a position in front of a pump-out station, knowing that we would have to move if anyone needed it. Apparently, a local architect "designed" the layout but he was not a boat person and obviously didn't check other facilities. We watched a few other boats do exactly as we had and ONE skipper who had obviously done it before - picked up the rear mooring poles on the way in and made them fast when in position. I probably felt a little foolish at having to fiddle around to get tied up so I was relieved to be told by our boat builder resident that they all know it is wrong and they will get it fixed when they can.
    Another mooring in Birdaard
By chance we ran across our old neighbours when we were sitting at the pub. They invited us to tie up "in their backyard", which we gladly did!
  
Great hospitality and an easy friendship that just picks up again after an absence, saw me with a hangover for the next day!
Day 3 Birdaard through the Northern 11 Cities Route (44.52 kms)
Thick red line is the new Northern 11 Cities Route - we went on to Hempens below Leeuwarden
Photos along the way......
This route was only opened in 2013 after many years of work in raising 12 bridges and building two sets of locks. A large portion of the money came in the form of European Union Grants to foster development and tourism in remote(r) areas.
It has a fair way to go in the tourism stakes but we enjoyed every minute of it, as was evidenced by the periodic cries of delight coming from Crew and occasionally Skipper. I think that the original waterway was mainly used for drainage of the low-lying farmland; there are many old style windmill pumps along the route.
The locks are very interesting in that they are push-button operated; one push to open the gates if they are closed and another push to say that you are ready once inside; the rest is automatic. The route is part of the 11 Cities Skating Race and so special provision has been made for the skaters to by-pass the lock by using a set of steps.
                       Day 4 Hempens to Drachten (19.2 kms) 
Met an English couple on this mooring! They bring their boat over each year and travel through Europe. I guess it looked seaworthy if not quite ocean-going. Just have to pick the weather I guess.
   
Home by lunchtime! Time enough for 4 hours mowing in the afternoon. No prizes for guessing what I'd rather be doing!
So just over 100 kms in 4 days. Average speed about 6 km/hr . Still running the motor in and not using much fuel as far as I can tell. I'm guessing about 50 litres used for the 40 hours engine time up until now. New motor, new fuel tank gauge so a few uncertainties yet (seems too good to be true).
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